Trillium CNG announced that it has designed a compressed natural gas (CNG) service station for the GreenTeam of San Jose, CA, that is now operational. The facility fuels 18 refuse trucks and is just the first phase in a process that is expected to double the size of the GreenTeam CNG fleet over the next 12 months.
In addition, Trillium is building a CNG station for GRTC Transit System of Richmond, VA.
GreenTeam, one of San Jose’s largest refuse and recycling collectors, spent $15 million on its vehicle and infrastructure switch to CNG.
“GreenTeam was seeking a provider that understood its business and could deliver a turn-key CNG station,” said Mary Boettcher, president of Trillium CNG. “That’s a core competency of ours and what we've built our business on. The station we constructed for GreenTeam of San Jose realizes all the advantages of natural gas plus the station design, build, operation and maintenance experience Trillium brings to the market.”
“Our investment in CNG infrastructure and the conversion of our entire fleet to a cleaner burning fuel, which is estimated at $15 million, is intended to reduce our carbon footprint and improve local air quality,” said Paul Nelson, division vice president of GreenTeam San Jose. “More than 40% of Santa Clara County’s greenhouse gas emissions come from cars, trucks, buses and trains. Natural Gas is the cleanest burning fossil fuel.”
GreenTeam collaborated with Trillium CNG to utilize a phased approach to designing and building its station. One compressor was installed to fuel the current CNG vehicles with expansion room for a second compressor as GreenTeam fully converts its fleet.
For GRTC, Trillium is building a high-volume, fast-fill station for buses. GRTC provides Richmond’s public transit service and is converting its entire 152-bus fleet to natural gas as well as 78 paratransit vehicles.
The station design is focused on high performance fueling and energy efficient operations and will feature Trillium’s patented HY-C technology which dispenses CNG at a rate similar to diesel using a hydraulic compressor, the company said. A smart control system will manage the CNG station to ensure optimal and efficient use of the compression equipment. The smart control system can result in savings up to 30% on power costs while maintaining fast fuel rates, Trillium said.
“Compressed natural gas fueling is a first for GRTC and we’re excited to get started,” said Eldridge F. Coles, CEO, GRTC Transit System. “Fueling our vehicles with CNG instead of diesel helps reduce our operating expenses while also improving air quality and reducing noise pollution in the Richmond region.”
